Denmark

Renewable island

Denmark is to get a "renewable energy island." Before the next decade, the island of Samsø, off the sheltered east coast of Jutland, will become 100% self sufficiently powered with renewables. Even transportation will be affected to a large degree. A summer tourist destination, Samsø is roughly 300 square kilometres in size and is already home to several wind turbines. The renewable energy island initiative stems from the government's "Energy 21" plan, which gives renewables a large role in future Danish power supplies. The plan calls for 35% of Denmark's energy use to come from green energy by 2030. Samsø will apply DKK 70 million to the project, excluding private investment and government subsidy. Presently Samsø's use of green energy meets 12-15% of its needs, excluding transportation. "With Samsø we can create a significant international demonstration project and a shop window for Danish energy technology," says environment and energy minister Svend Auken.

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